Eritahtoinen

Eritahtoinen is a Finnish term used in music theory to describe rhythms or passages whose metrical structure is irregular or multi-meter. A piece described as eritahtoinen may alternate between different time signatures within a section or move through nonstandard metres such as 5/4, 7/8, or mixed metres. The term highlights the meter itself rather than tempo, signaling that the pattern of beats does not conform to a single, uniform unit throughout the passage.

Etymology and nuance: The word combines eri- meaning "different" with tahti meaning "beat" or "tempo," plus the adjectival suffix -inen. In Finnish music discourse, eritahtoinen is often contrasted with tasatahtoinen, meaning even or regular meter. While tempo may change, eritahtoinen describes the irregularity of the beat structure rather than a mere speed variation.

Usage and contexts: The concept appears in analyses of folk music, contemporary classical, jazz, and progressive rock where composers employ irregular meters or shifting metres. Eritahtoinen can describe a section with alternating meters (for example, moving between 5/4 and 4/4) or a sustained polymeter in which different voices maintain independent metres. In performance, musicians may rely on internal pulse groupings or conductor cues to navigate the irregular rhythm.

See also: irregular meter, odd time signature, polymeter, cross-rhythm.

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